Watson Coleman: “I rise today to discuss Coleman-Lugar bill that will effect meaningful and reasonable reform of the United Nations. But…”

“I rise today to discuss Coleman-Lugar bill that will effect meaningful and reasonable reform of the United Nations. But before I delve into the issues of U.N. reform, I must take a moment to thank my colleague Senator Lugar for his leadership. As the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Lugar has been at the forefront of these issues for years--working to pass bipartisan, consensus legislation touching a wide range of international matters. In short, Senator Lugar's leadership on the issue of U.N. reform has been crucial. Sixteen months ago, as the chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I initiated a bipartisan, comprehensive investigation into the massive international fraud that flourished under the United Nations Oil for Food Program. You will recall this program was created to help protect the poor of Iraq from the impact of international sanctions. Unfortunately, Saddam Hussein manipulated the program-- siphoning off billions of dollars in under-the-table payments--and used that money to strengthen his murderous regime at home and reward friends abroad. As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testified at her confirmation hearing, Saddam Hussein was ``playing the international community like a violin.'' It could not have been more wrong: evil prospered while the poor starved; the program designed to control and oust the oppressor actually helped him stay in power and bolster his arsenal.…”